If you want to know what makes a boat fast, slow, stable, unstable, seaworthy, comfortable, or ideal for the things you want it to do, here’s a perfect place to start. Long-time boat designer Marshall tells you what you need to know about hull design, engines, drive trains, steering systems, comfort factors, safety features, and construction methods. You will learn the difference between a modified-V and a deep-V hull, a planing hull and a displacement hull, why one boat has a flared topsides and another doesn’t, how to tell if a boat is adequately powered, and how to judge a boat’s seaworthiness just by looking at it. He translates the jargon, explains the key concepts, and offers a wealth of insights into what makes powerboats tick.